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Our Sit At Home Order Not Targeted At Anambra Election – IPOB

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said its position on lockdown of the Southeast for five days beginning from November 5 to 10 has nothing to do with the Governorship election in Anambra state. However, not many people believe its claim. Most people insist it is targeted at the election as everybody, including the leadership of IPOB knows that what they are asking for is not possible.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has fixed the Anambra election for November 6.

IPOB, in a statement pointed out that its directive was to pressurize  the Federal Government to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, on or before the date.

The statement signed by the Publicity secretary, Emma Powerful insisted that IPOB has not come out with any position as regards the election.

“The global movement and family of the IPOB, ably led by our great and indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to clarify that contrary to speculations and blackmail, IPOB has never made any official statement or called for the boycott of Anambra State governorship election, coming up on November 6, 2021.

“It will, therefore, be wrong for people to speculate or peddle falsehood against us when there is no basis for such.

“For the sake of clarity, what we said was that the entire Biafra land would be locked down from November 5 to November 10, 2021, if by November 4 the Federal Government fails to release our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, unconditionally. Our position has nothing to do with Anambra election.

“All we need is the release of our leader who committed no crime to be held perpetually in custody.

“We have gathered, through intelligence, the plot by Nigerian Government to keep our leader in detention perpetually through frivolous court adjournments.

“We knew their evil plans when they were killing their fellow politicians and blaming it on IPOB. They should leave us alone.

“Using the social media to link IPOB to Anambra election shows most of them are not informed about plots by the Nigerian Government and her security operatives to hijack this election and give it to whom they feel to perfect establishment of RUGA in Anambra State.

“But that won’t work for them, because IPOB is ahead of their game plan. We urge media houses to be objective in their reportage and crosscheck their facts.

“IPOB has never, at any time, called for boycott of Anambra election. Media houses should stop publishing lies against us.”

Most people and organisation, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, have condemned the IPOB threat, and asked that it be rescinded.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Reopens November 5

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun state, has announced the reopening the University, which was shut down in the wake of the students protests early this month.

This was contained in a statement  the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, made available on Friday.

According to the statement,  the decision to reopen the University was taken at an Emergency Meeting of the Senate, held on Friday, 29th October, 2022.

The release explained that  students would come to residence on Friday, 5th November, 2021 and continue with their examinations on Saturday, 6th of November, 2021 in tandem with what was previously on ground.

“Parents and guardians are hereby advised to inform their children and wards, particularly those who have already finished their examinations to stay at home so that none of them would use the excuse of the reopening of the University to do something untoward.

“Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, then charged the Students to be law abiding and not to engage in anything that could further elongate the session.”

The students had been writing their examinations on the 2nd October, 2021 before they embarked on protests over the death of one of them, which they blamed on carelessness of workers at the university’s health centre.

Breaking: Appeal Court Dashes Secondus Hope, Says PDP Convention Should Hold

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Uche Secondus

By Akinwale Kasali

One could possibly say this is the end of the road for Prince Uche Secondus, embattled Chairman of the opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following the verdict of the Court of Appeal Ruling in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that ordered that the PDP Convention scheduled for October 30 and 31st 2021, should go ahead.

The three-man Appeal Court cleared the PDP to proceed with its national convention, however, dismissing the motion for Interim order of injunction brought by Secondus, seeking the suspension of the party’s convention.

An Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, has dismissed the suit filed by Uche Secondus to challenge the forthcoming convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

All the three judges led by Justice Haruna Tsammani affirmed the ruling without any dissenting voice.

Secondus, in an appeal marked CA/PH/ 339, had asked the court to restrain PDP from conducting its national convention slated for October 30 and 31, 2021, after been edged out following his feud with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

Secondus had through his Lawyer, Tayo Oyetubo, prayed the court to suspend the convention and grant him the right to preside over the exercise.

But on Friday, the court set aside Secondus Appeal.

The main suit is, however, still in Court. Secondus is arguing that his tenure expires in December, and his suspension, illegal.

Already, 3,600 delegates are in Abuja for the Convention.

Jonathan Leaves for Kenya to Attend AU High-Level Retreat on Mediation

By
The Source
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Goodluck Jonathan

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, according to a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Ike Eze, will depart Abuja on Saturday  for Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, to attend the 12th African Union (AU) High-Level Retreat on the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa.

Dr. Jonathan who is the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Special Envoy for Mali and also Chairman of ECOWAS Council of the Wise will be attending the three-day event which is designed for High Representatives, Special Envoys and Special Representatives of the Chairperson of the Commission (SRCC) to brainstorm on ways of  improving the impact of ongoing mediation efforts across the continent.

AU’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, who signed the invitation letter, stated that the retreat which theme is ‘Improved Coordination and Harmonization for Impactful Mediation’ would bring together Chairperson of the Commission, senior Kenyan government officials, as well as representatives of AU member states, regional organisations, international agencies and AU organs.

He said: “It will also provide participants an opportunity to reflect, take stock and review ongoing mediation efforts in the evolving conflict context on the continent, towards better coherence for more sustained Impact. The retreat would in addition offer insights and exchanges by mediation practitioners on emerging policy and practice as it relates to inclusivity, particularly on women, youth and civil society.”

Background information provided by AU described the annual High Level Retreat on the Promotion of Peace, Security and Stability as one of the key continental body’s initiatives for improving impact in addressing conflict contexts in Africa.

“Established in 2010 during the Africa Year of Peace and Security, the High-Level Retreat has become the leading forum for the Special Envoys, High Representatives and Special Representatives of the Chairperson of the Commission (SRCCs), and Mediators working in Africa to share experiences and best practices in the areas of conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacemaking”, it said.

Over the years the Retreat has strategically engaged with timely, contextual and challenging issues, with a particular emphasis of strengthening mediation capacity and collaboration on the continent. Most recently, in 2020 under the theme, ‘The future of mediation in Africa: Towards silencing the Guns-Lessons and Opportunities from the Covid-19 Pandemic”, the High- Level Retreat focused on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the African continent and the implications for peacemaking and peacebuilding.”

Lagos-Abeokuta Road: Abiodun Chides Protesters, Says Governance No Joke

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

…As NLC Stages Massive Protest After Expiration Of 21-Day Ultimatum

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has sternly warned protesters at the Lagos-Abeokuta Road and Ado Odo Ota Local Council Development Area of the State to stop embarrassing and presenting the State in bad light to the world.

Residents and members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, had taken to the streets to protest the deplorable State of the road, that has often led to gridlocks, accidents, stalling  businesses within the area.

Governor Abiodun stated that the roads are Federal Government roads and due to paucity of funds of his administration, he cannot embark on such project.

Expressing his disappointment over the conduct of the protesters, the Governor said it was a deliberate attempt by some individuals to soil his name and that of his Government

He described the protests as “unfortunate”, while giving his position on the issue in a virtual meeting with representatives of Ogun East Senatorial District on the 2022 budget held at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta,

He berated the demonstrators for trying to paint Ogun in “colours that do not represent the State”.

“The attempted demonstration in Sango-Ota is most unfortunate. Some people take delight in painting our State in a colour that does not represent our State.

“Ota is very important to us. The first set of roads by this administration was in that local government. The most expensive road, that is the Atan-Agbara road, is in the Local Government.

“Ogun and Lagos Governments have made attempts to get the Federal Government release funds for the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road to us for reconstruction, but no response. I have called on several occasions to Federal Government to give attention to the road. That road did not just get bad in the last two years”, he stated.

The Governor said some set of individuals are merely playing politics with issue affecting the lives of the people.

He disclosed that a sum of N75b would be needed to rebuild the road, declaring that the State does not have such money.

“Please be responsible, don’t play to the gallery. Governance is not a joke”, Gov. Abiodun warned.

The NLC had warned the State and FG that it would engage in a week long protest starting from the 27th October 2021 against the deplorable State of the road if the Government fails to take responsibility and fix the road.

It would be recalled that Minister of Works and Housing, Raji Fashola, had promised residents that the roads will be fixed soonest.

But residents are perturbed that despite the promise by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, nothing has been done, instead the roads  continued to be in pathetic state.

The NLC Ogun State Chapter Chairman, Emmanuel Bankole said they decided to storm the streets to protest after the expiration of 21 days ultimatum given to the State and FG on the repair of the Sango-Ota section of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Bankole described Fashola as a liar, who thinks he can fool the people.

The workers and residents carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Enough of bad governance”, “Dapo Abiodun, let us enjoy the dividends of democracy in Ogun”, “Dapo, this suffering is too much”, “Hear our cries, Ogun people are suffering”, “Dapo repair our roads, it is our right,” and others, which stalled vehicular movement.

Bankole added that Ogun workers had declared Fashola a “persona non grata”, saying, “we don’t want to see him, he lied to us, he fooled us.”

Bankole said, “21 days ago, we were here. We gave an ultimatum to the government that we are not pleased with the state of the roads; particularly the Minister of Works coming here to promise that palliative works will commence immediately and several weeks after nothing was done. That was why the 21 days ultimatum was given.

“Interestingly, a few days ago, they started some works. We can see some loads of granites by the State Government. But this is not yet what we asked for. The Minister was here and he promised to commence immediate palliative, which is yet to happen.

“As such, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, for coming to lie to the citizens of Ogun State, he is being declared ‘persona non grata’ in Ogun State. We are declaring him an enemy of Ogun State. We don’t want to see him in Ogun State for coming to fool and deceive us that palliative works will commence and nothing was done.

“We saw what is in the ground which is the effort of the State Government. The Federal Government cannot be collecting all the money and be inflicting pain on us. That’s why we are here to make the statement loud and clear that Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Ministry of Works and also the FERMA in Ogun State are being declared persona non grata.

“When we leave this place, we are going to the FERMA’s office in Abeokuta and also Ministry of Works to send message to their headquarter in Abuja that we are not pleased with what they are doing.”

2023: CAN Cautions Against Christian/Christian, Muslim/Muslim Ticket

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Just like the case of Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the 1993 Presidential election that fielded Two Muslims, Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and Bashir Tofa in the annulled election, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has strongly opposed a Christian/Christian and Muslim/Muslim ticket in the 2023 election.

The Religious organization made this assertion through its President, Samson Ayokunle, when the CAN leadership visited the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.

Ayokunle said political parties should bury the thought of Christian/Christian tickets or Muslim/Muslim Presidential tickets in 2023, because this will heat up the polity, leading to crisis.

CAN also cautioned politicians not to heat up the polity with utterances as campaigns commence.

It, however, advised politicians to always remember there is already tension across Nigeria due to insecurity

“We urge that a balance of both religious practitioners be considered. We don’t want Christian/Christian ticket nor Muslim/Muslim ticket”, he said.

Ayokunle expressed disappointment with the economic downturn and its consequences on the people.

The CAN President called for quick actions and policies that will cushion the effect. Enabling environment, CAN said, should be created for investments and incentives or tax exceptions given to local manufacturers on some goods”, Ayokunle added.

“Unemployment is at an unimaginable level. While we appreciate the efforts of the legislature in calling the attention of the executive, more robust and daring efforts are required.”

Nigeria:Soyinka Loses Hope; Says President Buhari Can’t Solve Nigeria’s Problems

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has, finally, conceded that President Muhammadu Buhari has no solution to the numerous challenges bedeviling the nation.

The Ogun State born poet said Nigeria is fast disintegrating, lamenting that the current administration lacks the solution to the various challenges confronting the nation.

Soyinka, a critic of every Government of Nigeria, was one of those who rooted for a Buhari Presidency in 2015.

Speaking at a news conference held at Freedom Park, Lagos, he decried the COVID-19 protocols put in place for travelers.

The conference had as its theme: “COVID, Technology and Citizens banishment”.

Soyinka said the problem here is that the Government does not have a holistic grasp of the problems in Nigeria.

“If we are looking to this Government for solution, then it means we are lost.

“We are in a mess. This country is in a mess. It is disintegrating before our very eyes. This Government is floundering”, he said.

He lamented the political crisis rocking Anambra State ahead of the November 6 election, where killings, kidnapping, unholy politicking has taken center stage leading to chaos.

He said the “piecemeal approach” by the Government in tackling the issues confronting the country cannot work.

Soyinka suggested that the only solution to the myriad of problems the country is facing at the moment is a Sovereign National Conference in which the various ethnic groups in the country would come together and find pathways to their mutual coexistence.

As regards the COID-19 protocols adopted for travelers, the Nobel Laureate said his experience in the hands of officials of the country’s Ministry of Health and Foreign Affairs on his way from Paris, France, was shambolic.

He narrated his ordeal, saying that not only was his flight delayed because, according to them, he had to be given permit to travel citing COVID-19 reasons but was made to go through some rigorous processes such as going to the Nigerian Travel Portal permit to seek permit to travel.

But the Nobel laureate said he was at a loss about the connection between the Ministry of External Affairs and COVID-19.

He said he was stressed out by the delay, and disclosed that he was finally allowed to travel due to a special treatment he was given, which he spoke vehemently against.

Facebook Gets New Name

By
Uche Mbah
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Facebook Logo

By Uche Mbah

Facebook, a Big Tech Company that has been striding the Social Media like a colossus has brought all its subsidiaries under one new name; Meta.

Facebook owns Whatsapp, Instagram, and other minor subsidiaries that are more or less independent of the name.

Recently, Facebook was down for six hours, carrying all the Apps with it. There have been controversies and complaints about the desires and partisanship of the giant big tech firm, but it appears such complaints are generally ignored.

According to a release by Facebook, the metamorphosis brings every app owned by Facebook under one brand.

“The metaverse will feel like a hybrid of today’s online social experiences, sometimes expanded into three dimensions or projected into the physical world”, the statement said.

“It will let you share immersive experiences with other people even when you can’t be together — and do things together you couldn’t do in the physical world. It’s the next evolution in a long line of social technologies, and it’s ushering in a new chapter for our company. Mark shared more about this vision in a founder’s letter.”

In his own words, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mark Zuckerberg, said, “ I’m proud of what we’ve built so far, and I’m excited about what comes next — as we move beyond what’s possible today, beyond the constraints of screens, beyond the limits of distance and physics, and towards a future where everyone can be present with each other, create new opportunities and experience new things. It is a future for anyone beyond any one company and that will be made by all of us.

“Right now, our brand is so tightly linked to one product that it can’t possibly represent everything that we’re doing today, let alone in the future. Over time, I hope that we are seen as a metaverse company, and I want to anchor our work and identity on what we’re building toward.”

Renowned Nollywood Actor, Joshua Johnson, Dies

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Joshua Johnson

By Akinwale Kasali

This is one death too many. In less than Six months, the  Nollywood industry has lost not less than Six of its finest actors to the cold hands of death.

It came as a huge shock to fans and social media users when the news filtered in about the death of legendary and renowned actor, Joshua Johnson.

The actor, who is popular in the English genre of Movies, was said to have passed on after a brief illness.

He passed on in the early hours of  Friday October 29th, 2021. His death was confirmed in a post made by his colleague in the movie industry, Abel Alechenu on his personal social media handle.

Alechenu took to his Instagram page to disclose the demise of Johnson, Sharing a photo of the actor,  he wrote; “This one HIT differently, but all I can say is “IT IS WELL”. When I called your phone and it rang, I thought all I heard were rumours, until I was told by the voice which was not yours that you have gone to be with the Lord. I wish I could just hear that it’s one of your so many jokes…..

”Uncle Josh”, “Old man!” As I always called you, our last conversation was our normal jokes fa, haba Uncle Josh…

“May God comfort your immediate family and we your friends and fans. Thanks for all the memories. God rest your soul. @africamagic @battlegroundfanpage @rionafightingfate @feemoverse”, he wrote.

Colleagues, fans and Social media users have thronged  his wall to mourn his demise, as tributes flow freely.

He will be missed by colleagues, family and friends who are yet to come to terms with the reality of his demise.

IPOB: Egbu Diocese Shifts Synod

By
The Source
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0
Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor

By Charles Igbo

No thanks to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, The Diocese of Egbu, (Anglican Communion), has shifted the date for its 2021 Synod.

The Diocese usually holds its Synod, an annual event, and  the most important and glamorous congregation of the Stakeholders of the Diocese  every first week of November.

This year’s event had been scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 5, 2021, and end on Sunday, November 7, 2021.

With the theme, “I have Given You An Example…” (John 13:15), the star event is the Presidential Address to be delivered by the Bishop of  the Diocese, His Lordship, The Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor. It was billed for Friday, November 5, at the venue of the Synod, the host  Church, St John’s Anglican Church, Naze, Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State.

But the schedule has changed. And this is the first time that the dates of the events at the Synod would suddenly change.

The plan for the change began when IPOB suddenly announced it would lock down the South-east between November 5 and November 10, if its leader, Mazi  Nnamdi Kanu, is not released, unconditionally on, or before November 4.

Kanu is under the custody of the Federal Government being prosecuted for, among other things, alleged terrorism and treasonable felony at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Since the trial began, IPOB, a group seeking for an independent South-east to be known as the Republic of Biafra, had ordered  sit-at-home on the Monday of every week. It later restricted it to the days Kanu would appear in Court, but it has not worked. Every  Monday, the Zone still stands still, with violence visited on a few people who dare out.

It is avoid an ugly situation that the Diocesan Board of Egbu Diocese, after an Emergency meeting  on Tuesday, October 26, made adjustments in the programme for the Synod.

Said Bishop Okorafor to all invitees: ” Please, note that because of the IPOB threats of sit-at-home from 5th Nov, we’re constrained  to begin our Synod on Tuesday, 2nd November. We’ll, therefore, present our Address/Charge on Wednesday 3rd November at 10,30am.”

The venue, however, remains the same.

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